Cara Delevingne and Rihanna watched the Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks basketball game in New York (Picture: Elsa/Getty Images)

Rihanna helped her BFF, Cara Delevingne, experience another first when she took her to watch an American basketball game.

The 25-year-old, who recommended her tattooist Bang Bang for Cara’s first inking, shared her love of the game with the 21-year-old model on Monday evening.

The pair winced and squirmed as they watched the tense game at a New York venue with Cara quickly taking to Twitter to inform her followers about her evening, writing: ‘My first basketball game, the Nets won! Thanks for the lovely evening @rihanna @jennnrosales x’

The Burberry model opted for a relaxed look as she sported a white crop top and leather trousers with a black and white Adidas tracksuit hoodie before covering up in a Brooklyn Nets T-shirt.

Rihanna looked similarly casual, also opting for an all-black ensemble in a black Billionaire Girls Club hoodie, black skinny jeans and a pair of black and red Nike Hi-Top trainers.

Soaking up the action from their courtside seats, the duo were joined by RiRi’s good friend Jennifer Rosales as they watched the Brooklyn Nets beat the Atlanta Hawks, 91 to 86, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.